School Fundraiser Profit Calculator

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Your Fundraiser

Fundraiser Type

Apex-Managed DIY Event Typical PTO

Sets a realistic starting point. You can adjust below.

Number of Students

Participation Rate (% of students who fundraise)

70%

Average Donation per Participant ($)

Free & Reduced Lunch % (optional)

Fundraising Goal (optional)

We'll show goal confidence and the donation needed per student.

On-campus team + incentives? Adds ~30% uplift to event gross in comparisons

Always compare vs. Apex baseline Off = use your selected type as baseline

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Your Results

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Enter your numbers above
and click Calculate to see your estimate.

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Fundraiser Comparison

Estimates are directional — your school's execution and community can shift results. Anchored to your inputs above.

Fundraiser Type	Est. Gross	Est. Cash (to school)	Program Value*	Total Value	Effort Level

* Program Value = estimated retail value of materials & services Apex provides to the school (prizes, event wearables, pledge kits, dedicated on-campus athlete, teacher materials, class awards, full event setup & teardown). Estimated at ~30% of gross. Other fundraiser types provide $0 in included program materials.

How to use this calculator

Choose a fundraiser type to set a realistic default baseline.
Enter your student count, participation rate, and average donation.
Optionally enter a goal to see confidence level and per-student donation needed.
Toggle on-campus team + incentives if your program includes that support.
Results and the comparison table update after clicking Calculate.

Pro tip: Apex-managed events typically raise significantly more than DIY because of built-in incentives, logistics, and on-campus energy — so starting with the right baseline matters.

Assumptions & methodology

Apex Price Scale (Official)

Min Collected	Max Collected	School %	Apex %
$100,001	+	60%	40%
$90,001	$100,000	59%	41%
$80,001	$90,000	58%	42%
$70,001	$80,000	57%	43%
$60,001	$70,000	56%	44%
$50,001	$60,000	55%	45%
$45,001	$50,000	54%	46%
$40,001	$45,000	53%	47%
$0	$40,000	52%	48%

+ ~30% of gross in program materials (prizes, wearables, pledge kits, on-campus athlete, teacher materials, class awards, setup & teardown) — included at no extra cost

DIY Event ~0.33× of Apex gross 3.5% processing only

Read-a-Thon ~0.45× of Apex gross 3.5% processing + 10% platform fee + $0.50/student + $100 fixed

Product Sale ~0.35× of Apex gross 2% processing + 55% product cost

Restaurant Night 25% family attendance $18 avg spend, 20% giveback, $50 promo cost

On-Campus Uplift +30% gross lift applied when "on-campus team + incentives" toggle is enabled. Separate from program materials value, which is always included for Apex events.

These are directional planning estimates — not guarantees. Actual outcomes depend on school size, community engagement, and execution.

Real Schools · Real Numbers

What Schools Like Yours Actually Raised

These are real Apex events in Illinois and Wisconsin — not projections.

Cotton Creek School · Island Lake, IL

$47,513

gross raised

Students580

Participation49%

Shares/student3.10

School keeps~$25,700

🔁 Repeat Apex School

Millburn Elementary · Old Mill Creek, IL

$87,594

gross raised

Students711

Participation66%

Shares/student4.09

School keeps~$50,800

🔁 Repeat Apex School

Kaneland John Shields · Sugar Grove, IL

$43,043

gross raised

Students421

Participation63%

Shares/student2.44

School keeps~$22,400

⭐ First-Time Apex School

Racine Montessori · Racine, WI

$21,871

gross raised

Students114

Participation68%

Shares/student8.14

School keeps~$11,400

⭐ First-Time Apex School

School net estimates based on Apex sliding scale (52–60%). Actual results vary by school and community.

From the People Who Know Best

What Educators Are Saying

We love the Apex program. Our staff is so excited when you walk in in the morning and our students even more excited. They've learned so much — lessons, the high fives in the hallway. They're just so pumped and ready to show the community that they are so proud of what they raised for the school library.

PTO President

Wauconda Grade School

This is hands down the best fundraiser I have ever been a part of. They definitely put the FUN in fundraiser. Wonderful team of individuals full of personality. Looking forward to many years working with them.

PTO Fundraising Chair

Marion Jordan Elementary

We do a lot of fundraisers but I like the energy the Apex crew brings in. They get the kids fired up and have fun with it. It's my favorite thing we do. I do a lot of fundraisers not just with this school but with other groups in the area but none of them bring the energy that Apex brings.

PE Teacher

Genoa Elementary

As we've been learning about being good leaders throughout the week, I've seen our older kids step up to the plate and show leadership values and characteristics to our younger kiddos. Helping out in the hallways, walking with kids, throwing trash out — it's just a really nice way to begin the year and talk about those things that really matter.

Principal

Juliette Low Elementary

I enjoyed how involved the leaders were with the students outside of the classroom lessons — recess, class parties, arrival times. Will definitely have Apex back to our school.

Principal

North Elementary

No Pressure. No Obligation.

What Happens After You Reach Out?

Here's exactly what to expect — no surprise sales calls, no pressure to sign anything.

Dean Reviews Your Numbers

Your calculator estimate is included automatically. Dean reviews your school size, goal, and FRL context before responding.

You Get a Personalized Plan

A simple, no-obligation plan tailored to your school — realistic goal, suggested donation per student, and timeline.

Your PTO Decides Together

Bring the plan to your board. No signature required until your group is fully on board. Most PTOs decide in one meeting.

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Questions PTOs Always Ask

How does Apex make money — and is there a conflict of interest?

Apex earns its share of the gross raised — between 40% and 48% depending on how much your school raises, per the official price scale shown in the comparison table above. There's no hidden fee, no per-student charge, and no markup on materials. The more your school raises, the smaller Apex's percentage becomes. That alignment — Apex only earns more when your school earns more — is intentional.

Do we have to sign a long-term contract?

No long-term contract is required. Each event is a single engagement. Many schools do choose to bring Apex back year after year — you saw several repeat schools in the results above — but that's always their choice, not a contractual obligation. You're never locked in.

What if our school has never done a fun run before?

First-time schools are a specialty. Racine Montessori (114 students, first-time Apex school) raised $21,871 — a 68% participation rate with 8.14 shares per student. Kaneland John Shields ran their first Apex event and raised $43,043 with 421 students. The Apex on-campus team handles all setup, student energy, and event-day logistics — your PTO's job is simply to say yes and communicate with families.

How much work does this put on our PTO volunteers?

Significantly less than a DIY event. Apex provides a dedicated on-campus team that handles classroom lessons, morning arrival energy, event-day setup, the run itself, and full teardown. Your PTO's primary responsibilities are communicating the fundraiser to families (Apex provides templates), distributing pledge kits, and collecting donations — all of which Apex walks you through step by step.

Can we see a sample timeline for how the week works?

A typical Apex event runs across one school week. Monday through Thursday, the Apex team visits classrooms to deliver leadership lessons and build excitement — each day has a theme. Friday is event day: the fun run itself, with Apex handling all logistics from setup through teardown. Prizes are distributed to students in the days following based on pledges collected. Dean can walk you through a school-specific timeline when you reach out.

Have a question that's not answered here? Email Dean directly — he typically responds within one business day.

Want a Simple Plan to Hit Your Goal?

Fill this out and we'll draft a personalized email with your calculator numbers included. No pressure, no spam.

Your Name

School Name

Your Role

Email Address

Prefer to email directly?

Or call Dean directly: (847) 951-8532

How Much Could Your School
Fundraiser Really Raise?

What an Apex Event Looks Like at Your School

Your Fundraiser

Your Results

Fundraiser Comparison

What Schools Like Yours Actually Raised

What Educators Are Saying

What Happens After You Reach Out?

Questions PTOs Always Ask

Want a Simple Plan to Hit Your Goal?

How Much Could Your SchoolFundraiser Really Raise?

What an Apex Event Looks Like at Your School

Your Fundraiser

Your Results

Fundraiser Comparison

What Schools Like Yours Actually Raised

What Educators Are Saying

What Happens After You Reach Out?

Questions PTOs Always Ask

Want a Simple Plan to Hit Your Goal?

How Much Could Your School
Fundraiser Really Raise?